The Lima Third Street Tragedy: The Death of Tarika Wilson

By Vickie Shurelds

Sojourner’s Truth Reporter

“We have done these busts thousands of times; literally thousands of times, not hundreds.  We take every precaution, we train and plan before we go in, and we have been successful time after time.” That quote is from Lima Police Chief Greg Garlock given at a press conference called by his office following the death of Tarika Wilson and the injury of her son, Sincere, during the high-risk service of a search warrant last weekend. 

“Thousands” of break-ins conducted by the Lima PACE Unit and SWAT teams that resulted in the apprehension of their suspect – but this time, something has gone terribly wrong. 

The press release to the media on Saturday morning read: “At approximately 8:15 p.m. on Friday, January 4^th, the Lima Police Department Tactical Team conducted a high risk search warrant at 218 East Third Street. During the performance of the warrant, Tarika Wilson, age 26, and her young child were injured. The injury to Tarika Wilson was fatal.  Her young child was Life Flighted to Children’s Hospital in Columbus and is in stable condition. The search warrant resulted from a long term investigation of Anthony Terry age 31. He was arrested in the residence and has been charged with Suspicion of Possession of Crack Cocaine and is being held at the Allen County Jail. Marijuana and crack cocaine were recovered from the residence. The fatal injury to Tarika Wilson and the injury to her child resulted from a member of the Tactical Team. Assistance from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation was requested and received. A formal news conference will be held at the Lima Police Department today (January 5^th) at 1:00 p.m.”

Details surrounding the “performance of the warrant” are sketchy at best. Because the investigation was turned over to the State of Ohio, the Lima Police Department was no longer in a position to answer specific questions or respond to certain requests. They could divulge information regarding the victims and the targeted subject, but not about the officer or any of the actions of the Police Department: 

1. Tarika Wilson had recently been released from prison

2. Anthony Terry had demonstrated aggression toward the Police in an incident 12 years ago

3. There were two pit bulls in the house that had been shot as well; one survived, one did not

4. Marijuana and crack cocaine were recovered from the residence.

The Chief would only say the officer who was ‘directly involved’ had been placed on administrative leave. He went on to say that an incident such as this has an affect on their department as well; no one wants this to be the result of the performance of their duties.  That person would remain on administrative leave until the investigation conducted by the Attorney General’s office was complete. 

Reporters asked a barrage of questions. “Did the police know there were children in the house?” (Six of them, in fact.) The chief said they were aware of the people who lived in the home. “There were toys in the yard and on the porch, it was apparent there were children in the home.”   

On the night of January 4, police say they prepared according to their training procedures to enter the home. Because of the children, their “distracting devices” were thrown outside the home – not inside as they usually do. 

Here begins the dichotomy in the story. Because of the investigation, the Lima Police Department cannot release specifics. Brenda Johnson, executive director of the Cheryl Allen Southside Community Center says Anthony Terry was apprehended immediately and taken from the home and placed in a police cruiser. 

“They had the target of the warrant,” says Johnson. “The police had Anthony Terry, so why would they go back in the house? They already knew who lived there and that all they would find would be a young mother, her six children and two dogs. Knowing that, why would you begin to shoot in the house? Why would you go up the stairs?”

When neighbors alerted Tarika Wilson’s family, they came to her home, but were stonewalled for hours while police secured the scene. Vickie Johnson is Tarika’s aunt.  She says the police were rude and displayed no sense of compassion. “You don’t tell a woman whose child is in a house surrounded by police after guns have been fired, to shut up, or move back or you’ll be tazed,” says Vickie Johnson. “That was her baby in the house, and her grandbabies. She wanted to know if her daughter was in the house and they told her to shut up.”

No one in authority spoke to the family for four hours.

They were waiting for a search warrant that would allow them to re-enter the house after the Tactical Team left. And they had made the call to the state. They were also waiting for them to arrive to begin to process the site.
 

Finally, the family was told of the death. At the impact of the words from Chief Garlock, Tarika Wilson’s mother, Darla Jennings, fell to the ground. 

Nothing else was said until a press conference was held at the Lima Police Department on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

Chief Greg Garlock addressed the media in somber tones, read the press release then a briefing on the status of Sincere Wilson. “He’s in stable condition and his injuries are not life threatening”. 

When asked where the children had been taken during the time after the shooting until relatives arrived to retrieve them. “They were here. When I arrived, they were playing in the hallway. They were fine, and one of the officers was talking with them.”

A reporter asked: “You spoke to the children without an adult present?”  He answered, “Not about the case. Just talking to keep their minds occupied.”   

The Chief also said he stood by the officers who made the decisions regarding the raid.   “Obviously, first of all, this is such a sorrowful situation that has created for us a lot of concern; both from the standpoint of the victims involved in this incident as well as the officers that were involved. We have victims on both sides of this issue, if you will.  Because of the fact, frankly, we know the community would want to see an objective look  be put forth on this we’ve asked for the Attorney General’s Bureau of Identification  and Investigation Office to come in which they did last night, and begin to process the scene of this incident as well as interview those involved. We’ve in essence turned this investigation over to them with the intent of assisting them in any way we can. We’ll let them look at the facts and we’ll see where they take us.”

Former SWAT Commander Richard Shade said raiding a home with children in it is not unusual. “People need to understand that this is a risk they take when they allow someone to sell drugs in their home and they have children.”

Lima Mayor David Berger was present at the press conference. “I think it’s very important to express on behalf of the community our real sorrow at what has transpired here. Obviously, for Ms. Wilson’s family, our heart goes out to them; both for her death and for the injury to the child. Also, from the standpoint of the police department and the officers involved, this is an incredibly upsetting circumstance. It is truly is a circumstance that no one ever wants to see happen; the officer’s are included in that. They train very hard in order to be prepared, but in this instance, something went wrong. Right now, the process that is underway is one I really do believe was the right decision by the chief to bring in BCI, a third party will conduct the investigation going forward, we need to allow that investigation to go forward, all the facts be determined. Then based on the facts decisions will be made at this point I think it’s certainly a matter of recognizing that what’s occurred it’s a horrible incident that we now want to sort out and then ultimately review what our options are at that time.”

Meanwhile, across town concerned residents and the victim’s family gathered at the Cheryl Allen Southside Community Center to organize thoughts and actions and express their outrage in an environment away from the eyes of the media. 

Reverend Arnold Manley took the lead of the discussion explaining the importance of working within the system while monitoring the investigation to make sure things are not “swept under the rug”

Reverend B. Lamont Monfort encouraged the crowd of nearly 150 to think. “We have to be clear thinking and not be a distraction to the process. You can only win if you think beyond your anger. Our first priority has to be this family. We have to make sure they are taken care of and that their needs are being met.”

The decision was made to gather again at 4:30 that day to hold a candlelight vigil in honor of Tarika Wilson. They would march in peace to demand the answers as to why this incident became a death sentence for a 26 year old mother of six.

Part 2

“Truth and justice ... truth and justice … truth and justice.”

The words rang out from the crowd of close to 200 that gathered just next to the yellow tape indicating a police investigation at 218 East Third Street. 

Reverend Arnold Manley addressed the crowd after marching with over 100 community members from the Cheryl Allen Southside Community Center to the house of Tarika Wilson. 

Less than 16 hours had passed since the Lima Police Department’s Tactical Team had stormed the home, armed with a high-risk search warrant in pursuit of Anthony Terry.  Terry had been the target of a long-term investigation and, according to former SWAT Commander Richard Shade, “There is no doubt he was selling drugs out of that house.”  Shade is now a major in the Lima Police Department. “People need to understand this is the risk you take when you allow someone to sell drugs in your home.”

As members of the community gathered for the vigil, they began putting stuffed animals on the fence – police tape and a cruiser parked in front of the home 24 hours a day prevented any closer contact. They later began to throw the toys on to the porch as tempers began to rise in the reaction to the incident.

“We want answers. And we want them very soon,” says Rev. Manley. “There is a time for all things; it is now time for truth and justice.”

Within the crowd, people began to tell stories of Tarika Wilson. “She was a good mother who loved her kids, and she was going to start school on Monday so she could begin to make a better life,” said one mourner.

“They killed her. Shot her down like a dog,” said another.  

Every time the crowd began to feed on its own hurt, anger and sorrow, it was quieted by a request for respect and control in honor of the victim. 

“We don’t care what they say, we want to know what happened, and we want to know who shot Tarika and we want to know why that person isn’t in jail. Why is he on vacation? A vacation we as tax payers are paying for?” asked Manley. He continued by saying the vigil was a promise to Tarika Wilson and her family, including her children, that this would not become one of the unsolved deaths in Lima, Ohio.

Michael Alexander Sanders died while in custody of the Allen County Jail on February 28, 2007. The black community and their families still await information on two other deaths as well. His sister Demetria Sanders said her family wants to know what happened. Nearly a year has passed with no information. 

She has returned to the area to care for the children her brother left behind.  “Chief Garlock, I want you to know that my mother is a strong, black woman whom I’ve only seen cry three times in my life until February 28, 2007. After that day, she cries every day because of what happened to her son at the hands of law enforcement in Lima, Ohio.” 

“There were babies in the house! Six children! Oh, my God! Why would you shoot in a house with children in it? You never know what could happen when children are involved. What about procedures – you said your officers are well trained – every job I’ve always been on they always say ‘Safety First.’”

Michael Little says the police have to be held accountable for their actions because it’s their job to know what they would encounter when they enter a home. 

Thirteen-month old Sincere Wilson continues to be cared for by Columbus Children’s Hospital where he was life flighted after being shot in the shoulder and hand. One of his fingers was shot off and he has undergone two bouts of surgery. Doctor’s have said he is too young to know how extensive the damage could be to his arm. It is possible he may not have full usage.

Brenda Johnson is the executive director of the Cheryl Allen Southside Community Center, she vows to not let anyone rest until the truth is told. “We are going to organize and mobilize and we will not stop until we get some answers,” says Johnson. “The police were here on a warrant to search for drugs. Chief Garlock said today on television that they found marijuana and crack cocaine in the house, but last night when we asked about the man who was arrested an officer told us, ‘he’s in booking, but we’re going to have to let him go because we didn’t find anything.’ 

“So what is the truth? Any other time, when they make a bust they lay all they’ve found out on the table so we can see it. Drugs, money, guns… where are they? Show us what you found! I don’t believe there were drugs in that house, and we’re going to find out the truth.” Johnson vows to hold a march every Saturday until the investigation is completed.

Newspaper coverage from mainstream media ran information on a former drug charge involving Tarika Wilson, and revealed that the rental property was owned by City Councilman Derry Glenn.

“I’m hurt behind that,” responds Glenn, “She was getting her life together, a young mother making plans to take care of her children. Now she’s dead. And my family is hurt because my name is being dragged through the mud and across the front pages. I’ve known of homes owned by other councilmen, even by police officers that have been busted, but their names were not in the papers. But, that’s OK. During my tenure of eight years on Lima City Council; I work with these people, talk with them, make laws with them, but they have disrespected me. They could have come to me like a man and said we believe these things are going on in your house. They knew, and they had a plan.  They know how I love the people of the 6^th Ward and how I will do anything for the 6^th Ward, and they want to stop me. But, they can’t.”

“We want to know what the city has to say about this” one man yells from the crowd.  “So do we” says Johnson – so we’re going to City Council Monday night. Be there before 7:00.”

Ed. Note: Next week, an account of that City Council meeting and a report on what attention national organizations will be devoting to the Lima incident.

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